Ginn's late heroics propel 49ers past Seahawks

Sep 12, 2011 - 2:31 AM
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Ted Ginn Jr. picked up San Francisco's
anemic offense with two scintillating special teams touchdowns late in the
fourth quarter, helping the 49ers pull away from the Seattle Seahawks, 33-17,
in Jim Harbaugh's debut as an NFL head coach.

Seattle pulled within 19-17 with four minutes to go in regulation before Ginn
returned a kickoff 102 yards for a score. He took a punt 55 yards to the end
zone a short time later to seal the win.

"I didn't think they were going to come right back and punt it to me. I just
tried to make them pay for it," Ginn said. "With the special teams that we
have there's always a [chance] we can pop one."

David Akers connected on four short field goals and Alex Smith conservatively
completed 15-of-20 passes for 124 yards for the 49ers (1-0), who plucked
Harbaugh from Stanford following a 6-10 campaign last year.

Tarvaris Jackson threw an interception and lost two fumbles in his first start
under center for the defending NFC West champion Seahawks (0-1).

The former Vikings signal-caller passed for 197 yards and two touchdowns, one
coming on a short slant that Doug Baldwin turned upfield for a 55-yard score
with 3:56 remaining, cutting Seattle's deficit to two.

Ginn stopped any change in momentum by fielding the ensuing kickoff two yards
deep in the end zone. He made one defender miss around the 15-yard line and
sprinted untouched up the right sideline for a back-breaking score.

The Seahawks went three-and-out, and Ginn took Jon Ryan's punt and broke
several arm tackles en route to a 55-yard TD, locking up a season-opening win
for the hosts.

"It's a very disappointing first game for us. ... It felt like we were right
there to take this game over, and then it fell apart in the kicking game,"
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said.

Ginn's 31-yard punt return at the tail end of a punt-filled opening quarter
set up Akers' 27-yard field goal early in the second frame.

Jackson lost a fumble four plays later, leading to Akers' 24-yarder, and San
Francisco's free agent acquisition added a 31-yard kick with 2:40 left before
halftime.

The 49ers extended the lead before the break, as Smith took one in from a yard
out on a bootleg to the right for a 16-0 cushion.

Jackson hit Golden Tate for an eight-yard TD 4:40 into the third quarter, and
Steven Hauschka and Akers exchanged field goals of 39 and 18 yards,
respectively, early in the final stanza.

Game Notes

Ginn has six return touchdowns in his career -- three on punts and three on
kickoffs...Akers signed with the 49ers as a free agent after a successful 12-
year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles...Frank Gore was held to 59 yards on
22 rushes for the 49ers, who got two sacks apiece from Justin Smith and Parys
Haralson...Baldwin ended with a game-high 83 yards on four catches...Seattle
gained 182 of its 219 yards in the second half.